Sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about DBL Sodium Thiosulfate Injection.
It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking
to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you being
given sodium thiosulfate against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What DBL Sodium Thiosulfate injection is used for
This medicine is used:
in the emergency treatment of cyanide poisoning
to prevent cyanide poisoning when sodium nitroprusside is given.
This medicine works by helping the body to convert cyanide to a less dangerous chemical
called thiocyanate.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed
for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
This medicine is not addictive.
Before you are given DBL Thiosulfate injection
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to:
any medicine containing sodium thiosulfate
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing
or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the
body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
high blood pressure
conditions that cause fluid retention, such as liver disease, heart failure, kidney
disease or toxaemia of pregnancy.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or are breast feeding.
Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you are
given sodium thiosulfate.
How DBL Sodium Thiosulfate Injection is given
How much is given
Your doctor will decide what dose you will receive. This depends on your condition.
How it is given
DBL Sodium Thiosulfate Injection is given as a slow injection into a vein. It must
only be given by a doctor, nurse or other trained person.
If you receive too much (overdose)
As DBL Sodium Thiosulfate Injection is given to you under close supervision, it is
very unlikely that you will receive an overdose. However, if you experience severe
side effects, tell your doctor or nurse immediately.
Symptoms of an overdose may include joint pain, blurred vision, muscle cramps, nausea
and vomiting, strange or disturbing thoughts or behaviour, and ringing or other persistent
noises in the ears.
In case of overdose, immediately contact the Poisons Information Centre for advice.
(In Australia, call 13 11 26.)
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you
are being given DBL Sodium Thiosulfate Injection.
This medicine may have unwanted side-effects in a few people. All medicines can have
side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may
need medical treatment if you get some of the side-effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any
of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they
worry you:
headache
disorientation
diarrhoea
increased urge to urinate
The above list includes side effects which are usually mild.
Tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you notice any of the following:
dizziness
nausea and vomiting
muscle cramps or joint pain
blurred vision
strange or disturbing thoughts or behaviour, including feeling agitated or seeing,
feeling or hearing things that are not there
buzzing, hissing, whistling, ringing another persistent noise in the ears
The above list includes serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention.
Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
After being given DBL Sodium Thiosulfate Injection
Storage
DBL Sodium Thiosulfate Injection will generally be stored in the pharmacy or on the
ward. The injection is kept in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below
25C, and it is protected from light.
Product description
What it looks like
DBL Sodium Thiosulfate Injection is a clear, colourless solution in a glass vial.
It is available in single packs.
Ingredients
Each 10 mL vial of Sodium Thiosulfate Injection contains 2.5 g of sodium thiosulfate
as the active ingredient. The vials also contain:
dibasic sodium phosphate dodecahydrate
sodium metabisulfite
water for injections
sodium hydroxide and sulfuric acid are added as necessary to adjust pH.
This medicine does not contain lactose, sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo
dyes.
Name and Address of sponsor
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
Sydney NSW
Toll Free Number: 1800 675 229
AUST R number:
10 mL vial 133490
This leaflet was updated in October 2020.